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Cited by 12Microbial Community Ecology and PhysiologyMethane Hydrates and Related PhenomenaGeochemistry and Elemental Analysis

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Microbial taxa related to natural hydrogen and methane emissions in serpentinite-hosted hyperalkaline springs of New Caledonia

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Quéméneur, Marianne, Mei, Nan, Monnin, Christophe, Postec, Anne, Guasco, Sophie, Jeanpert, Julie, Maurizot, Pierre, Pelletier, Bernard, Erauso, Gaël·2023·Frontiers in Microbiology
DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1196516PMC PMC10359428
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Abstract

The southeastern part of New Caledonia main island (Grande Terre) is the location of a large ophiolitic formation that hosts several hyperalkaline springs discharging high pH (∼11) and warm (<40°C) fluids enriched in methane (CH 4) and hydrogen (H 2). These waters are produced by the serpentinization of the ultrabasic rock formations. Molecular surveys had previously revealed the prokaryotic diversity of some of these New Caledonian springs, especially from the submarine chimneys of Prony Bay hydrothermal field. Here we investigate the microbial community of hyperalkaline waters from on-land springs and their relationships with elevated concentrations of dissolved H 2 (21.1–721.3 μmol/L) and CH 4 (153.0–376.6 μmol/L). 16S rRNA gene analyses (metabarcoding and qPCR) provided evidence of abundant and diverse prokaryotic communities inhabiting hyperalkaline fluids at all the collected springs. The abundance of prokaryotes was positively correlated to the H 2/CH 4 ratio. Prokaryotes consisted mainly of bacteria that use H 2 as an energy source, such as microaerophilic Hydrogenophaga/Serpentinimonas (detected in all sources on land) or anaerobic sulfate-reducing Desulfonatronum, which were exclusively found in the most reducing (E h ref H 2 ∼ -700 mV) and the most H 2-enriched waters discharging at the intertidal spring of the Bain des Japonais. The relative abundance of a specific group of uncultured Methanosarcinales that thrive in serpentinization-driven ecosystems emitting H 2, considered potential H 2-consuming methanogens, was positively correlated with CH 4 concentrations, and negatively correlated to the relative abundance of methylotrophic Gammaproteobacteria. Firmicutes were also numerous in hyperalkaline waters, and their relative abundance (e.g., Gracilibacter or Dethiobacter) was proportional to the dissolved H 2 concentrations, but their role in the H 2 budget remains to be assessed. The prokaryotic communities thriving in New Caledonia hyperalkaline waters are similar to those found in other serpentinite-hosted high-pH waters worldwide, such as Lost City (North Atlantic) and The Cedars (California).

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  • The effluent at Prony Bay has lower H2 and CH4 concentrations than Lost City by about a magnitude but still in significant amounts.

    “The effluent at Prony Bay, a shallow sea vent with a fresh water source and similar microbial communities as continental ophiolites, has lower H2 and CH4 concentrations than Lost City of about a magnitude but still in significant amounts (Quéméneur et al., 2023).”

    From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Quéméneur et al., 2023

    The Introduction reports substantial H2 and CH4 in fluids venting at Prony Bay, and Results §3.1 (Table 1; page unavailable) gives dissolved concentrations for New Caledonia springs. The paper does not give Lost City H2 or CH4 concentrations or establish that Prony Bay concentrations are about an order of magnitude lower. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Quéméneur et al. (2023) showed that the abundance of certain prokaryotes is positively correlated to the H2/CH4 ratio in hyperalkaline springs and that bacteria that use H2 as their main energy source are the most abundant among the microbial communities of Prony Bay.

    “Quéméneur et al. (2023) showed that the abundance of certain prokaryotes is positively correlated to the H2/CH4 ratio in hyperalkaline springs and that bacteria that use H2 as their main energy source are the most abundant among the microbial communities of Prony Bay.”

    From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Quéméneur et al., 2023

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  • Abundance of Firmicutes, which includes many acetogens, has been shown to be proportional to dissolved H2, however why that is still has to be determined.

    “Abundance of Firmicutes, which includes many acetogens, has been shown to be proportional to dissolved H2, however why that is still has to be determined (Quéméneur et al., 2023).”

    From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Quéméneur et al., 2023

    Results §3.5 reports a strong positive correlation between Firmicutes abundance and H2, and the Conclusion (§5) says their role in the natural H2 budget remains to be assessed. The Discussion (§4) describes two Firmicutes relatives with different metabolisms, but does not establish the additional claim that Firmicutes includes many acetogens. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Quéméneur, M., Mei, N., Monnin, C., Postec, A., Guasco, S., Jeanpert, J., Maurizot, P., Pelletier, B., & Erauso, G.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Wuhan University of Technology (CN)
  • Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (NC)
  • Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (NC)
Corresponding author
Quéméneur, Marianne
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Microbiology
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2023-07-06
Volume
14
Pages
1196516-1196516
ISSN
1664-302X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fmicb.2023.1196516
PMC
PMC10359428
OpenAlex
W4383293022
Cited by
12
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2023: 2
FWCI
1.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Microbiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-19-CE02-0020)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Keywords
serpentinite, serpentinization, hydrogen emission, methane emissions, microbial communities, prokaryotic diversity, Hydrogenophaga, Methanosarcinales, hydrogenotrophic bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria, Firmicutes, ophiolite, New Caledonia

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